Leica M10 Monochrom

The Leica M10 Monochrom is a M-mount digital rangefinder camera, introduced in 2020. Leica camera price index ↗

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General

Mount
M
Release Year
2020
Type
Digital
Model Number
Typ 6376, 20050
Serial Range
Unknown

Dimensions

Weight
660g
Length
38.5mm
Width
139mm
Height
80mm

Viewfinder & Shutter

Magnification
0.73x
Framelines
28/90mm, 35/135mm and 50/75mm bright-line frame pairs
Shutter Speeds
Aperture priority, 16 min to 1/4000s continuously; manual, 8s to 1/4000s in half steps, 8s to 16 min in full steps + B
Shutter Type
Metal

Features

Hot Shoe
Yes
Tripod Socket
Yes
Self Timer
Yes
Flash Sync
1/180s

Leica M10 Monochrom

The Leica M10 Monochrom is a digital M-mount rangefinder camera introduced by Leica Camera AG in 2020. It is the third major generation of Leica’s dedicated black-and-white digital M line, following the original CCD-based M Monochrom and the CMOS-based M Monochrom Typ 246 [1].

The camera is built around a dedicated monochrome CMOS sensor with an active surface of approximately 24 × 36 mm. Leica lists the DNG resolution as 7864 × 5200 pixels, or 40.89 megapixels. Because the sensor is designed without a color filter array and without a low-pass filter, the M10 Monochrom records luminance information directly rather than producing black-and-white images from color files [1].

Compared with the M Monochrom Typ 246, the M10 Monochrom moves to the slimmer M10 body platform and introduces a higher-resolution monochrome sensor. It also expands sensitivity to ISO 160 to ISO 100,000, giving the camera a broader low-light operating range than earlier Monochrom models. The camera uses the Leica Maestro II processor and records lossless-compressed DNG files as well as JPEG files [1].

As an M camera, the M10 Monochrom uses the Leica M bayonet mount with a sensor for 6-bit lens coding. Leica also states compatibility with Leica R lenses when used with an optional adapter. The optical finder is a large bright-line rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation and 0.73x magnification. It displays paired framelines for 28/90mm, 35/135mm and 50/75mm lenses [1][2].

The shutter is a vertical-travel metal blade focal-plane shutter. In aperture-priority mode, shutter speeds run continuously from 16 minutes to 1/4000 second. In manual mode, the camera offers 8 seconds to 1/4000 second in half-step increments, with longer speeds from 8 seconds to 16 minutes in full-step increments, plus B for long exposures. Flash synchronization is 1/180 second via the ISO accessory shoe with additional control contacts for Leica flash units [2].

History

Development and Launch

The Leica M10 Monochrom was announced in January 2020 as the successor to the M Monochrom Typ 246. Leica positioned it as a dedicated black-and-white M camera with the technical and handling concept of the M10 generation, but with a newly developed monochrome sensor designed specifically for grayscale capture [3].

Production Evolution

The M10 Monochrom belongs to the M10 digital rangefinder family. Its body follows the thinner M10 platform rather than the thicker Typ 240 platform used by the previous M Monochrom Typ 246. Leica’s technical data lists an all-metal die-cast magnesium body with brass top and bottom covers in black chrome finish [1].

Model Position and Image Character

Within the Monochrom lineage, the M10 Monochrom is significant because it raised the resolution from the 24MP Typ 246 generation to approximately 40MP while keeping the direct monochrome capture concept. The absence of a color filter array means the camera cannot produce color files, but it gives photographers a highly specialized black-and-white workflow with strong detail, tonal separation and high ISO capability [1][4].

Special Variants

The standard production model is identified by Type no. 6376 and Order no. 20050. Finish or edition differences should be stored as variant metadata if encountered, but the main LeicaLensList model name should remain M10 Monochrom unless a specific factory special edition requires separate cataloguing [1].

Collector Notes

For collectors and database purposes, the M10 Monochrom should be kept separate from the earlier M Monochrom 10760 and M Monochrom Typ 246. The original 10760 is a CCD-based M9-generation camera, the Typ 246 is based on the M Typ 240 platform, and the M10 Monochrom is based on the slimmer M10 generation with a 40MP monochrome CMOS sensor [1][3].

Leica documentation gives a small weight discrepancy. The official technical data sheet lists approximately 660 g with battery, while the instruction manual lists approximately 675 g with battery. For database consistency, the Leica technical data value of 660 g can be used in the main weight field, with the discrepancy noted for collectors [1][2].

The Leica M10 Monochrom is important because it represents the maturity of Leica’s monochrome-only digital rangefinder concept. It keeps the traditional optical M rangefinder experience while offering a high-resolution black-and-white sensor, broad ISO range, minimalist body design and modern digital workflow.

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